Starting in first gear, you're thrust against the seatback and don't get any relief until the middle of fourth, and by that time you're doing well over 120mph

In addition to the Z06 hard-top, with its removable roof panel, there is now a convertible version. Both hard-top and soft-top can also be fitted with either a manual an automatic transmission, a first for the Z06.

Save for the pushrods and the dry-sump lubrication, this supercharged 6.2-litre LT4 Chevy small-block is filled with modern technology. It starts in similar form to the standard Stingray LT1 V8, with an aluminium block and cylinder heads, but adds forged connecting rods and pistons, and those pistons are re-engineered for this engine's 10:1 compression ratio.

Direct injection, variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation are part of the package, and the engine's pushrod design allows for the intercooled supercharger to be placed in the valley between the cylinder heads. In all, the supercharger adds just an inch to the engine’s overall height, maintaining the Corvette’s exceptionally low bonnet line.

One oddity in the manual car is the leftover shift paddles on the steering wheel. Perhaps intended for the automatic car and only retained to reduce tooling costs, their function with the manual is to engage the active rev-matching system, which is meant to save drivers from the footwork required for smooth heel-and-toe downshifts.

Further, the e-diff is tied into the other systems in the Z06 and varies its action based on the wide range of drive mode permutations. Under braking, for example, the differential is fully open, making the Corvette exceptionally stable while decelerating.

Brakes on the standard Z06 use two-piece rotors on both axles with six-piston front and four-piston aluminum calipers rear, while the optional Z07 package fits a carbon-ceramic system with massive rotors, incidentally shaving 10.4kg in total. Both systems are supplied by Brembo and are remarkably effective at deleting speed, particularly on track and especially on the technical and braking-biased Spring Mountain circuit in Nevada.

Available to the driver is a range of drive modes - perhaps one or two too many for a supercar like this Z06. From the dial on the console, the driver may select settings for Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track and then further drill down into Track mode for a subset of settings from wet to minimal driver assist.

Cosworth supplies Corvette Racing with the team’s data acquisition and telemetry systems and was tapped to develop the Performance Data Recorder for the road car. Beyond the thrill of a video recording of your laps, it also captures a basic set of data channels for off-track analysis.

Bespoke Michelin Pilot Super Sport runflat tyres were engineered for the Z06, and compared with the Stingray’s, these Michelins run one and a half inches wider at the front and two inches wider at the rear, necessitating new bodywork.

The front wings have been widened by 56mm and the rears by a massive 80mm, giving this Corvette a total width of nearly two metres. The new bodywork enhances the existing Stingray aerodynamics with additional downforce and improved airflow for cooling, braking and the supercharger’s integrated intercooler.

A head-up display is standard equipment on the upper trims and features a useful bar graph tachometer and G-meter when using the Z06’s track mode. The Stingray’s base and optional Competition seats carry over to the Z06, and they’re the best seats fitted to any Corvette.

Comfort and support are quite good for both seats – a radical departure from the sixth generation’s utterly horrible seats - although there is little difference between the two, even under on track g-loads.

The Z07 Performance package includes the aforementioned four-wheel Brembo carbon-ceramic brake package, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 runflat tyres, magnetic adaptive suspension and obvious additional front and rear aero bits, including a clear adjustable rear spoiler. With its height, the view out the rear-view mirror would be compromised if that tall spoiler were opaque, so instead Chevy engineers specified that this one be see-through. Clever.

The cockpit is orientated towards the driver, and the passenger interface to the major systems is entirely a secondary consideration. Materials range from quality leathers to hard, budget plastics that aren’t suited to any car costing over £50,000, let alone £90,000. Even the rear bumper cover flexes and squeaks like a plastic cup. But the equipment list is fairly comprehensive, with keyless entry and start, a 360-degree camera system, cruise control, heated and ventilated seats and dual-zone climate control all fitted as standard. Dominating the dashboard is Chevrolet's 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system complete with sat nav, Bluetooth, smartphone integration, DAB radio, a Bose sound system and GM's Onstar driver assistance and wi-fi package.

The optional Cup tyres are near race-spec and give the Z06 what is simply an obscene amount of grip: 1.2g, according to our data from the car’s data recorder. Where the Super Sports make this Corvette a willing dance partner and allow you to play with and explore its limits, the Cups feel like an endless wall of grip, but when you exceed the limit, breakaway can be rather abrupt.